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Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for the Promotion of Tendon Repair - an Update of Literature

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Abstract

Tendon injuries are prevalent in physical activities and sports. Tendon heals slowly after injuries. The results of conservative treatments and surgery are not satisfactory with high re-injury rate and scar tissue formation. The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the injured tendons was reported to promote tendon repair. Recent studies have suggested that MSCs supported tendon repair via the secretion of paracrine factors. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of cell-derived membranous structures that are produced and secreted by most eukaryotic cells. They carry a plethora of proteins, lipids, microRNA and mRNA which reprogram the recipient cells and are involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes. EVs were shown to promote tissue repair and mediate the healing effects of MSCs. In this review, I aim to review the recent literature on the promotion of tendon repair using EVs-derived from MSCs (MSC-EVs). The mechanisms underlying these actions are also reviewed and future research directions are discussed. Better understanding of the roles of MSC-EVs in tendon repair would offer a new treatment strategy to circumvent this devastating soft tissue disorder.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Ms. Angelina Yui Ling Chu for preparing the figures in this manuscript.

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    Pauline Po Yee Lui

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This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Special Issue on Exosomes and Microvesicles: from Stem Cell Biology to Translation in Human Diseases

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Lui, P.P.Y. Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for the Promotion of Tendon Repair - an Update of Literature. Stem Cell Rev and Rep 17, 379–389 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-020-10023-8

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